Christopher Zanoni's Biography:
I am currently a 27 year teaching veteran at Somerset Area School District. My career has allowed me to teach a variety of Social Study courses ranging from 7th grade Ancient World History to my current position of Honors 12th grade Government and Economics. The key to advocating for the Social Studies within PA is generating an interest among our youth of the value and efficacy they can bring to the discussion.
Within my classroom, I have developed connections with a variety of local politicians and business leaders to actively engage my students. We regularly participate in campaigns and elections by establishing community meet the candidate town halls and working the polls on election days. Through our school nearly 50 of my students participate in the state wide Youth and Government program sponsored by the YMCA of Pennsylvania. Within this club, our students learn the governing process at the state level by assuming the various roles within our state government and look to write and pass appropriately debated legislation during a weekend in Harrisburg.
During my professional career, I realized that it was just as important to look to improve myself by taking advantage of opportunities to enhance my experiences by committing myself to promoting the Social Studies throughout my community. I have served as a Board Director for our County Historical Society for the last 27 years, with 6 of those years as President. Currently, I am the Secretary and the Program Committee Chair. Through these positions I oversee a school program that involves over 2,000 students annually and have made tremendous professional connections to organizations such as the Heinz History Center to bring valuable programs to our museum.
With regards to the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS), I was a board member from 2012 to 2018. During that time, my involvement continued to grow until I became part of the annual awards committee. Though I have had to leave the board due to mandatory term limits, I remained active in the organization of the 2019 Awards.
Finally, I currently celebrating 24 years of marriage to my wife Karen and the proud father of two children (Nate and Amelia).
Future of Social Studies:
My name is Christopher Zanoni and I am a 27 year teacher in the Somerset Area School District. Throughout my career, I can truly say I have watched as the Social Studies became regulated to the sidelines in terms of academic rigor and expectations. Fortunately, I can honestly say that as time moves on the importance of the Social Sciences is becoming once again relevant. The rapid polarization of issues through easily accessed technology requires us to be more diligent in preparing students to be able to civilly discuss subjects in a way that will enhance their understanding of those issues as well an appreciation of others viewpoints. Within my classroom, I expect my students to approach a subject with an understanding of what I refer to the “three C’s. “ Clarity, Conviction, and Compassion are necessary tools that we must impart upon our youth in the hopes that we can return to an age of mutual respect and sights set on achieving the promises of the American experiment.